"Gotcha."
Jasper's voice was playful as his arm curled loosely around Edward's
shoulders from behind, pulling the younger vampire back against his
chest. Edward's lips twitched into a smile, enjoying the way Jasper's
hand slid down to rest over his lifeless heart.

"Where
have you been?" Edward asked eventually, his hand covering
Jasper's. "Hunting... but you knew that."

The
older vampire's voice was unusually light and Edward was sure that if
he turned he could see Jasper's eyes sparkle mischievously. "You're
in a good mood."

"Hunting
alone tends to do that to me... you know, no feelings but my own...
it's kinda awesome..." The fell silent for a moment, Edward
revelling in the warmth of the older vampire's embrace, not wanting
this moment to end anytime soon as Jasper's good mood was something
he definitely enjoyed.

Edward
absent-mindedly let his fingers trail over the crescent-shaped marks
marring the exposed skin of Jasper's forearm, the little bumps like a
map beneath his fingertips. Jasper tensed almost immediately, his
fingernails digging into Edward's chest.

"Stop
doing that." Jasper said curtly, the playful Southern lilt gone,
a sharp edge to his usually smooth and rich voice. Edward took hold
of his wrist when the older vampire tried to pull away and cover his
arm again. "No."

Jasper
still tried to wriggle free when Edward's fingers kept tracing the
scars, the other hand tight on the other vampire's wrist to keep him
from moving. "Edward please... I don't like..."

"What?
The scars?"

"They
are everywhere as it is, no need for you to give them the extra
attention..."

Edward
turned to face the older vampire whose lips were twisted into a
bitter grimace.

"They're
ugly... I don't know what you see in me..."

The
younger vampire shook his head before he brought his lips up to meet
Jasper's, one hand curling against the older vampire's neck, his
fingers raking through the soft strands of hair at the back of his
neck.

"I
see you... the real you... the struggling man caught in the body of a
boy who experienced too much too soon, a man who so desperately wants
everyone around him to feel alright that he forgets about his own
emotions... those scars are a part of you, Jasper... they made you
who you are today, they make you the one holding me close, the one
who's making eternity so much more bearable for me."

Jasper's
eyes were clouded with emotions Edward couldn't quite identify as the
older vampire wordlessly pulled him into a needy kiss that would've
stolen his breath, had he needed it. "Thank you Edward."

Jasper
pulled away, obviously needing some distance for a moment. He turned
to dart back into the forest when Edward's voice stopped him.

"Hey
Jazz... what I failed to mention... scars are sexy." A low
chuckle ripped from Jasper's throat as he started for a run into the
woods, Edward watching him with a smile.

He
knew it would take some work to put the broken pieces of the older
vampire's soul back together but if he got a laughing and smiling
Jasper as a reward, he was more than willing to make the effort.

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